Dust off your broom and expect a fantastic weekend of fun and magic when the Chestertown Harry Potter Festival returns to this colonial river town — featuring free and ticketed events to benefit the MSCF’s Fund for Kent County and the nonprofit Garfield Center for the Arts, which plays host to many of the weekend’s events. Warner Bros. Entertainment and J.K. Rowling are not associated with or responsible for the festival in any way, and the inspired group of fans who created it hope they won’t be sent to Azkaban for expressing their enthusiasm!
Inspired by fabled destinations from J.K. Rowling’s award-winning books, this second annual festival takes flight on Friday, October 2, 2015 at 4:30p.m. with a talk and discussion on “Harry Potter and the Art of Spying” at The Bookplate, 112 S. Cross Street. Then muggles and wizards alike will want to grab their robes and wands for the festival’s Kick-off Party at the Garfield Center for the Arts at 210 High Street, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. This event welcomes fans of all ages for wizard rock, magical demonstrations by an infamous Potions’ master, photo booth, trivia, and more.
Saturday’s schedule includes Quidditch matches, a self-guided, all-day Scavenger Hunt through downtown Chestertown and riverfront activities. Local shops will be transformed into magical-themed retailers, through inspiration from the books. Wizard crafts and licensed merchandise will be available from artisans, local merchants, and vendors. Fans can discuss Wandlore with crafters of fine wands and experience street theatre interpretations of the Triwizard Tournament tasks.
Beginning at noon, ‘Potter in the Park’ will offer free wizardly activities and performances in Chestertown’s central Fountain Park. Visitors are encouraged to wear their robes for dueling lessons with the Phoenix Dueling Club, wizardly crafts, face paintings, live entertainment and magical snacks. The afternoon will culminate with this year’s Costume Contest on the outdoor Fountain Park stage.
Back by popular demand is a Saturday ticketed event for children ages 8 to13, a highlight of last year’s festival. Students will experience a sorting ceremony and join wizard “professors” in their favorite magical classes at the Garfield’s spacious theater. This year the popular event has expanded to two sessions, one in the morning and another in the afternoon.
Saturday evening events will feature more wizardly fun to be announced on our festival website, including a Festival pub event for adult wizards (age 21 and over) and a new event for all ages.
While most activities will be free and open to the public, some will have limited space and will require advanced ticket purchases and registration. For festival updates, accommodation recommendations, directions and further details visit www.chestertownhpfest.org or the Chestertown Harry Potter Festival on Facebook.
The Chestertown Harry Potter Festival is organized by an all-volunteer committee of loyal Potter fans to celebrate the spirit of Harry Potter and promote the local community and its arts.
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